The Men’s Singles continued with the start of the 3rd round being played.
Holder Gosforth’s Simon Richardson stayed on track to retain his title, winning at Forth. And another former champion (2016) in Richardson’s clubmate Mick McGreevy stayed in the hunt for another title, where Mick beat another Gosforth player in Daine Ross 21 – 10. But a former champion went out, in an all Benfield clash 2021 champion Jonty King lost narrowly to fellow club colleague in Paul Proctor, with Paul edging out the win 21 – 19.
Gosforth 2016 Champion Mick McGreevy
Over the night there was impressive away wins – Tynemouth’s Richard Coates, beating the 2 Wood County Champion in New Delaval Knight’s Graham Sivell 21 – 19; Gosforth’s Dan Bennett beat Benfield’s Alan Proctor 21 – 18 at Benfield, and Paul Timney winning at St. Georges beating Dragons Dean Robson 21 – 15.
But there was better news for another Dragon, with Connor Harvey continuing his good season with a comprehensive away win at Forth 21 – 4 over Jimmy Nicholson. Out to the west, and our furthest green in Haltwhistle, where home favourite Jason Forster continued his impressive wins, this time beating Collingwood’s Martin Hayden 21 – 16. As we all know perhaps the football is currently on, and like football the tie at Portland was certainly a game of two halves. The tie saw Young Gren Richardson take on Collingwood’s George Jobe; Jobe started really well winning 9 – 0 after 6 ends, Richardson hit back scoring on the next 8 ends to lead 10 – 9, Jobe scored 2 singles to lead 11 – 10 but Richardson only dropped one more shot, and finished with a 3 and 3 to take the tie 21 – 12. Well done to Gren, but after last night young Grenville may not be so young!
Another close contest saw Forest Hall’s Chris Coan defeat ‘the bear’ Graeme Robinson, and this game was meant to be at Forest Hall but was played at New Delaval Knights, where Chris recovered from a 20 – 15 deficit to score a full house of 4, then 2 singles to take the tie 21 – 20. Chris will have home advantage in the next round where Chris takes on Benfield’s Paul Proctor.
Other away wins were at Benfield where Hexham House’s Clive Knott beat Peter Carr 21 – 13, Clive will be away next week again, but will probably have a shorter journey as Clive travels to Haltwhistle to take on Jason Forster. There was better news for Carr’s clubmate Alan Pomfrey who won at Gosforth, beating Tuan Le 21 – 17. Alan will be at home next week and faces former champion in Gosforth’s Mick McGreevy.
The final games to report were another home win for Ashington’s George Richardson, who beat Cramlington’s Phil Ging. And Rockcliffe Roller’s Stephen Scott score a good win in a tight tussle against Cramlington’s Dave Clough.
Finally the last two games to advise where walkovers for Benfield’s Jonny Morgan – which was known last week; Morgan goes to Gosforth in the next round to face the holder Simon Richardson. The last tie to advise saw Westerhope’s Peter Gray get a walkover from Walker St. Peters Michael Simmonette.